Water impervious closure for washing apparatus



Oct. 13, 1953 F. D. LOW 2,655,165

WATER IMPERVIOUS CLOSURE FOR WASHING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 29, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l 10 i v| l rum W; M 1H 12? I l 24 I 2& I I T I O M r 14102 Dem ya '5 v 105. 9x28- Q 12! E 4 'I 06 1 Y l A '91 v 3; I '2 v* F 7250???? Ta,

F. D. LOW

WATER IMPERVIOUS CLOSURE FOR WASHING APPARATUS Filed 000'. 29, 1949 Oct. 13, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. E0. nifl Lazy, BY M Oct. 13, 1953 F. D. LOW 2,555,165

' WATER IMPERVIOUS CLOSURE FQR WASHING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 29, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Oct. 13, 1953 WATER IMPERYIOUS GLQSU'RE' FOR WASHING APPARATUS Frank; 1). Low; La. Grange-Bank, Illa, assignor to. General: Eleetr e Company, a orpor ti n of New York.v

Application Oetober'29, 194 SeriaI N'o. 24,360

3 Claims, (01. 134 ...18?,)

The present intent-ion; relates: to; washingornaratus. and more particularly to. improved dish,- washing. apparatus. of the general character of that. disclosed the appending application of Forrest A. Waiker; Serial; No. b.4'. i fiiljed Octob r 3.0... 119%.

The dishwashing apparatus disclos d in th Walker application. mentioned is of. the timed wa h n cycle. ime. that performs automatically and predetermined sequence given steps ineluding: sprarina. washing: rinsin nd d yin o the dishes.- and other" utensils con-tamed therein. This apparatus: comprises a cabinet. having-t a front opening and: housing: a vertically di p vat. including: structure terminating in a, forwardiy directed doorway hatin a front ope n registering; with the firstrinentioned front opening, and, a door arranged in the; doorway and mountedfor-morements withre neet to;- thefront op nings. between a: substantially vertical close position. and; a. substantially horizontal even position The wall structure of the vat and the, door respectively carrr cooperating bafliies and. are otherwise so constructed. and; arranged: that. hot

washing. fluid or'l quid v circulated the vat. do s not; escape between the doorway and the: door out of the: front penings. no withstandmg. the absence of. the usuali sealing asket. thetebetween.

While this asketless: doorand: doorway construction the: dishwashin apparatus of: the

Walker appliaation ishiahly efiifo nt and; positive iniopeizationh the Structural form. of the; baifie; that iscarrijed y the: insidewall of the door: is subject to oritioisms in that it proiects eonsiderabiy rearwardlvtherefrom. when the door occupies its closed position. and; that. it. produces: what. may; be termed a shearing action with the cooperating names th t ar oarriedby the walls. of. thevat. as the d oris moved into.- its elosedposition- Accordingly; it is; a, general ohiectot the'present intention. to provide washing apparatus; of: the front-opening easket1essdo0r. type.- that employ an improved and simplified bafiie arrangement forthe purpose of. preventin the: escape of. the washing; liquid. from: the. front opening;

Another object of: the; invention-isto providain washing apparatus including a vat having a ton-- weirdly directed doorway e m at n in; a front qp n hgi anda. door mounted; within the-doorway formovements between. open: and. closed positions with respect to,- the front opening, an. improved arran m n of; cooperating baffles respectively carried by the walls. of thevat: and by the inner wall: of? the door for preventing: the, escape: of: the

washing liquid from theyvatv and: without natzticu- 55.

lar: close fits; andshearing action between the hafiiesas; the door is moved into its closedposition.

A. her; object of the invention is to provide in was ing; apparatus; oi the character noted, bafiiestructure that, is so constructed and arran ed that n improv dtu bule t a t nf. the washing liquid is obtained within the vat adjacent totheidqqtway that-is eifeetivei-tolirmt the admissiQn: of Washing: liquid into the doorway from the vat.

features of the invention. pertain to the particular arrangement of the elements of the washing. aagrnaratusy v whereby the above-outlined and. additional: operating; features thereof are attained.v

The; invention both as: to: its organization and method 0t operation, together with further obi'ecs and. a an ag st e eot. will best benderstood-b r fe nc o t e o owi g specificatio taken in, conneotion the. accompanying drawings, in; which Figure 1 is a front elevational v ew; p tly hmk n away; of dish-wash apparatus of. the front-opening; g asketlessedoor type embody n the'rres t n e i s 2 i a ve ticai ectio al? v ew; pa t y br a ay; of the di hwa hins; appa tus. ak n in he dir ti n of the arrows a one; the l 2-Z- i Fi -=1; his. 3 a f a mentary hor zon l s c i na v e of the t on nertioni of the dishwash ne ppar tus, taken: in the, direction ofthe arrows along the o fset ine 33- n i 4- s a p v o the. insi e of the; ront door o e d w shin emanates ho n: n F s, t t 3, inc F e- 5 is-a. side; elevational View of the front door shown 5, and Eia, 6 isian. enlarged fragmentary sectiqnnl viewof. one side of the inside of the front. doo s. titien in the: direction of the; arrows alone the li e 6-4 1 v and us t n th substantially tit-shaped gross section of the inve ted; substantially ueshapedbaiiie carried by e. i side of the o t o ad ace t t th top and; side fla g s t er Re err ne: nowto F 1 to 3, nclusive oith drawings. the. di hwa i -is a pa a us -0= he illustrated and. enitody -na the Ieetures o the p esent nventio is of the s n ra eons ie n and arrangement of that-disclosed. in the conendinsv estimatio of Edgar S- S o a d S a r05 6i8t fi ed. J r 9%. which: ishw shine apra atus oi the firont openin ea ket e s-deor type d solose i' n:- t e p vious y menti n a -app ication 'Ineaenaratu litcorne ises an outercasing Q1 cabinet. H provided with. top andbottom wa ls t and; ii-r new d id all I54 and 5... andzrea and rontwalls It and. i1.

The bottom wall l3 has a plurality of downwardly depressed feet l8 formed therein for the purpose of spacing it from the supporting floor, or the like; and the front wall I! is rearwardly offset adjacent to the bottom wall l3 in order to provide connecting substantially vertical and horizontal panels l9 and adjacent to the front of the cabinet H so as to define a foot-receiving recess, permitting a person to work close to the front of the cabinet Also, the front wall H has a front opening 2| formed in the upper portion thereof, the front opening 2| being offset toward the right; and a front panel 23 is carried by the front wall ll and has a front opening 24 formed in the upper portion thereof, the front opening 24 being offset toward the right. The front opening 24 provided in the front panel 23 surrounds the front opening 2| provided in the front wall 11 and overlies a considerable marginal portion thereof adjacent to the lower portion of the front wall IT. The front panel 23 is provided with a rearwardly directed marginal flange 25 surrounding the front opening 24, and a rearwardly directed boundary flange 25, the top and side portions of the boundary flange 25 being respectively disposed substantially flush with the top wall |2 and with the side walls l4 and I5, and the bottom portion of the boundary flange 25 overlying the horizontal panel 20. The front panel 23 is suitably removably secured to the front wall H with the front openings 24 and 2| in substantial registry.

The cabinet I houses a substantially vertically disposed vat 21 arranged in the upper portion thereof and offset toward the right, the vat 21 comprising top and bottom walls 23 and 29, opposed side walls and 3|, and a rear wall 32. The top and bottom walls 28 and 29 and the side walls 30 and 3| terminate in a forwardly directed doorway 33 having a front opening 34 arranged in substantial registry with the front openings 2| and 24. More particularly, the top and side portions or flanges of the doorway 33 terminate in an outwardly and rearwardly rolled rim 35; while the bottom wall 29 is provided with a forwardly projecting flange 36 terminating in an upwardly and outwardly extending front ledge or lip 3! extending between the side flanges of the doorway 33, the front ledge 37 terminating adjacent to the front opening 34 of the doorway 33, whereby the upper edge of the front ledge 3'! is disposed considerably above the bottom flange 33 and consequently the bottom wall 29. A substantially centrally disposed downwardly depressed sump 38 is formed in the bottom wall 29 and communicates with a downwardly embossed depression or groove 39 formed substantially centrally in the bottom flange 36 and extending forwardly toward the central portion of the front ledge 31. Further, an upstanding inverted substantially U-shaped inwardly embossed vat rib 40 is formed in the top wall 28 and in the side walls 30 and 3| at the junctions thereof with the corresponding flanges of the doorway 33, the vat rib 40 including downwardly extending legs 4| terminating just above the bottom flange 3B and well behind the front ledge 31.

The vat 21 is suitably supported within the cabinet H by the rear and front walls l6 and I1 thereof, and, in turn, carries a front door 42 that comprises an outer body sheet 43 terminating in an inverted substantially U-shaped rearwardly directed marginal flange 44, and an inner body sheet 45 terminating in an inverted substantially U -shaped rearwardly directed marginal flange 45. 75 45 The inner body sheet 45 is arranged in nested relation within the outer body sheet 43 and suitably secured in place so that the principal portions of the body sheets 43 and 45 are arranged in upwardly approaching spaced-apart relation. Further, the marginal flange 46 of the inner body sheet 45 is provided with an outwardly directed inverted substantially U -shaped marginal rim 41 that cooperates with the front surface of the associated vat rib 40 when the door 42 occupies its closed position. In order to retain the door 42 in its closed position a latch element 48 is secured to the central upper portion of the marginal flange 46 adjacent to the rim 41, the latch element 48 cooperating with a resilient latch element 49 secured within the upper central portion of the doorway 33.

The door 42 is mounted adjacent to the lower edge thereof within the doorway 33 rearwardly of and below the front ledge 31 by a hinge arrangement including two laterally spaced-apart substantially identical hinge mechanisms 50, whereby the lower ends of the outer and inner body sheets 43 and 45 are disposed in straddling relation with respect to the front ledge 31. Each of the hinge mechanisms 50 comprises complementary parts 5| and 52 respectively secured to the front surface of the inner body sheet 45 and to the flange 35, the hinge part 5| being disposed between the body sheets 43 and 45 and the hinge part 52 being disposed interiorly of the vat 21 and behind the front ledge 31. Also, each of the hinge mechanisms 50 comprises a bumper element 53 carried by the hinge part 5| and a cooperating bumper element 54 secured to the lower surface of the flange 36 exteriorly of the vat 21.

The hinge mechanisms 54 are not disclosed in detail, since they form no part of the present invention, and are disclosed in the copending application of Frank D. Low, Serial No. 61,633, filed November 23, 1948, now Patent No. 2,573,798, dated November 6, 1951. The hinge mechanisms 50 mount the door 42 within the doorway 33 for movements between a substantially vertical closed position and a substantially horizontally open position with respect to the front openings 2|, 24 and 34. Also, it is noted that the door 42 may be completely removed from the doorway 33, when it occupies an intermediate position with respect to its open and closed positions, by virtue of the fact that the hinge parts 5| and 52 are disengageable. Further, when the door 42 occupies its open position the hinge parts 5| and 52 are suitably interlocked to prevent disengagement thereof, and the bumper elements 53 and 54 are engaged in order to support the weight of the door 42.

Further, a laterally extending and upwardly sloping bracing sheet 55 is arranged between the body sheets 43 and 45; and a handle 58 formed of plastic is suitably secured to the upper central portion of the door 42 adjacent to the top of the marginal flange 44 of the outer body sheet 43 in order to facilitate the movements thereof. For the purpose of ventilating the interior of the vat 2'! an opening 51 is formed in the top of the marginal flange 44 of the outer body sheet 43 and receives a plastic element 58, the element 58 having a downwardly depressed basin 59 formed therein through which a number of spaced-apart laterally extending louver openings 60 are formed. Also, a plurality of laterally arranged holes 6| are formed in the top of the marginal flange 46 of the inner body sheet and communicate with the louver openings get -ms 8'0. Accordingly, when the door'fl occupies closed; position the interior of the vat 21 is in communication with the top of the doorway 33 through the holes 61 and the: louver openings 60 and consequently with the exterior, so that vapor given off" by hot washing-- liquid in the vat 21' may be vented to the exterior. In order to prevent the vapor issuing from the top of the doorway 33 from condensingupon the front edge of asink, or the like, not shown, disposedabovethe top, wall i=2, a laterally extending vapor directing; or projecting element 62 formed of plastic is suitably-secured to the front of the front panel 23 above the top; of the doorway 33.

The construction of the elements is and 62 comprising the ventilating arrangement that is incorporated in the apparatus Hl have not been disclosed in detail, since this arrangement forms no part of the present invention, and is disclosed in the previously mentioned Stoddard ap' piication. As best shown in Figs. 2 to 6', inclusive, the door 41 further comprises a plastic detergent cup 63" disposed in an opening provided in the inner body sheet 45 and opening; toward the interior of; the vat 21, as; well as track structure for guiding a dish-carrying rack indicated genorally at N. in Fig. 3; Specifically, in the inner body sheet 45' a substantially centrally disposed trackway 65 is embossed and two side traokwa-ys 66; and 61' are provided that cooperate with rollers, not shown, carried on the lower portion of the rack structure 64 for the purpose of guidingthe movements of the rack structure 64 over the door- 42 in its open position. Specifically, the two sidetrack-ways 66 and 61 are carried by two side embosses- 68 and 69- formed in the innor bodysheet- 45. The embosses 68 and 69 are directed inwardly and are provided with connected inwardly directing embosses and H disposed in lateral alignment adjacent to the lower portion of the inner body'sheet 45.

Also, an inverted substantially U-shaped flange orbaflle i2- is carried within the marginal flange 4601* the inner body sheet adjacent to the marginal rim 4''! provided about the marginal flange $6. The baffle I?is-substantiallybshaped in its principal cross section including inner and outer walls 13 and M and a connecting wall 15.

Specifically: the outer wall 14' of the baille 1-2 is directly secured by welding, or the like, to the inside surface of the marginal flange 46- of the inner body sheet 45 providing a space 16 between the inner Wall 13 and the marginal flange 46. Thus the connecting wall F5 of the baffle 12 is disposed forwardly of the marginal rim 41 disposed about the marginal flange 46, while the inner wall '13 of the baflle 12 is disposed inward lywith respect to the marginal rim 4'!- andprojects rearwardly with respect thereto. Finally, the extreme rear end of the inner wall 13 is provided with an inwardly rolled rim H in order to avoid any sharp edges. When the door 42' oocupies its closed position, the inner wall T3 of the battle I? projects through the vat rib 40 and is; spaced inwardly-therefrom in order to prevent shearing action between the bafilel2 and the vat rib 40 Moreover; the baffle T2 cooperates with the vat-ribfll in order to define an inverted substantially U-shaped pocket 18 therebetween that is alsosubstantially U-shaped in cross sec-- tion. when the door 42'- occupies its closed position; Also, two upstanding inwardly directed bafiies H! are embossed in the left-hand side wall 30 0f the'vat' 21 adjacent to and rearwardly of the associated leg- 4! of the vet rib. 40-; and" upstanding inwardly directed baffles are. em-

bossed in the right-hand side wall 31' of the vat 21 adjacent to-and rearwardly of theleg HZ of the vat ri-b- 43'. The two bafil'es l9- termina-te adj acent to the lower ends thereof in a substantial lyhorizontally disposed inwardly directed ernboss M provided in the left-hand wall 30; and the two bafiles: to terminate adjacent to the. low-- or ends thereof in a substantially horizontally disposedinwardly directed emboss 82 provided in the right side wall 3|. The embosses 8 and 82- constitute trackways that cooperate with the rollers, not shown, that are-carried by the lower portion of the rack structure 64 in order to support the rack structure 6 4 when it occupies its retracted position within the vat 2- 1.

The details of the construction of the bafll'es 1'8 and as and the trackways 8|. and 82 provided in the walls of the vat- 2-1 the construction of the trackways 6-5, 68 and 81 carriedby thedoor 4?, and the construction of'therack' structure 64 are not disclosed in detail, since they form no part-of the present invention, and are disclosed in the previously mentioned Walker application. However, it will be understood that the rack structure 64- is movable through the doorway 33 into and out ofthe vat 2-1 when the door &2 0c cupies its open position. the rack structure 64- is: moved into its retracted position in the vat 21- it is supported upon the trackways El and 82-, and when therack structure 64 is moved into its extended position out of thevat 2? and over the door- 42 it is supported upon the trackways 65-, 66 and 67.

supported upon suitable brackets 92- secured to the lower portion of the sump 38; and an upstanding cylindrical reticulated screen 93 is removably arranged within the sump 38 about the impeller Also, a liquid supply pipe 94 is arranged in the lowerportion of the cabinet H below the vat 2-1 and is adapted to be connected to a source of cleansing or washing liquid, such, for example, as a hot water tank. The washing liquid is piped from the lower portion of the cabinet ll upwardly between the rear wall= l6 thereof and the rear wall- 32' of the vat 21 by a flexible conduit 95 and into the top wall 28" of the vat 2*1". Specifically, a rotary spraying device 96- is arranged within an upwardly extend ing emboss 97 disposed substantially centrally in the top wall 28 so that the; liquid may be sprayed downwardly through the rack structure 64. carried within the vat 21 and allowed to accumulate in: the sump 38. The liquid supply pipe 94 is connected to an inlet, valve mechanism 98* of the solenoid and dash-pot controlled type supported by the panel 20 and arranged to discharge into the conduit 95. The inlet valve mechanism 98 is normally biased into its closed position-- in order to cut on" the supply of liquid from the liquid supply pipe 94 to the conduit 95, butis providedwith anassociated solenoid 99*that is adapted, when energized, to operate the inlet valve mechanism 98 into its open position in order that washing liquid may be supplied from the liquid supply conduit 94 via the inlet valve mechanism 98, the conduit 95 and the spraying device 96 into the upper portion of the vat 21. Subsequently, when the solenoid 99 is de-energized, the inlet valve mechanism 98 is returned slowly to its closed position cutting off the communication between the liquid supply pipe 94 and the spraying device 96. The provision of the slow-closing inlet valve mechanism 98 eliminates water hammer in the plumbing preceding the liquid supply pipe 94.

Also, provided in the lower portion of the cabinet II is a drainpipe I that is connected through a suitable trap, not shown, to drain plumbing. The drainpipe I00 is carried by a drain fixture IOI, that is, in turn, secured to the lower surface of the sump 38. The drain fixture IOI communicates with a flexible conduit I02, that, in turn, communicates with a drain fixture I03 that is secured within a drain opening provided in the lowermost portion of the sump 38. The drain fixture WI and I03 are formed of molded rubber, or the like; while the flexible conduit I02 comprises a section of rubber hose, or the like, that is internally reinforced to prevent collapse thereof. The drain fixture I03 frictionally engages the drain opening provided in the sump 38 and is restrained in position by a strainer I04. The flexible hose I02 comprises a portion of a drain mechanism I05 that further includes structure I00 that is secured to the side wall 30 adjacent to the bottom wall 29 of the vat 21. The structure I06 comprises a. pair of spaced-apart guide elements I01 extending below the midsection of the hose I02, and a substantially S-shaped operating member I08 disposed between and cooperating with the guide element ml. The operating member I08 is pivotally mounted adjacent to the inner end thereof upon a pivot pin I09 carried by the structure I06 and is normally biased in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. l, by a coil spring IIO surrounding the pivot pin I09 and extending between the structure I06 and the operating member I08. The extreme outer end of the operating member I08 carries an upwardly extending projection III underhooking the midsection of the hose I02 and disposed between the outer surface of the hose I02 and the adjacent side wall I4 of the cabinet II. Finally, the structure I06 carries an electro-responsive solenoid device IIZ that is provided with a movable armature II3 which is operatively connected by a coil spring II4 to the extreme inner end of the operating member I08.

In view of the foregoing, it will be understood that the hose I02 extends in an arc between the drain fixtures WI and I03 and that the midsection thereof is normally disposed below the drain opening provided in the sump 38 so that the drain fixtures IOI and I03 are in free communication with each other through the hose I02, whereby any wash liquid in the sump 38 may be readily drained into the drainpipe I00. Moreover, the operating member I08 is normally biased by the weight of the hose I02 and against the counterbalan ing spring III! in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, in order to insure that the midsection of the hose I02 is moved into its lower position normally to rest upon the. guide elements I01. When the solenoid device H2 is energized, the armature II3 is attracted rotating through the coil spring II-I the operating member I08 in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, about the pivot pin i09 with the bias of the coil spring IIO so that the operating member I03 lifts or elevates the midsection of the hose I02 from its lower position into its upper position, whereby the drain mechanism I05 is operated from its draining position into its non-draining position. Subsequently, when the solenoid device H2 is de-energized the weight of the hose I02 returns the operating member I00 in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, back into its normal position against the bias of the counterbalancing spring IIO so that the midsection of the hose I02 is returned to its lower position in order again to return the drain mechanism from its non-draining position into its draining position.

The constructon of the drain mechanism I05 has not been shown in great detail, since it forms no part of the present invention, and is disclosed in the oopending application of Edgar S. Stoddard, Serial No. 86,291, filed April 8, 1949.

Mounted within the lower portion of the vat 2'1 above the bottom wall 29 and below the movable rack structure 64 and surrounding the impeller is a suitable electric heater I20 which is preferably of the sheathed resistance conductor type; which heater I20 is employed for the purpose of drying the dishes after they have been washed and rinsed as explained more fully hereinafter. The opposite terminal ends of the heater I20 extend through liquid-tight openings provided in the bottom wall 29 to the exterior so that electrical connections may be made thereto exteriorly of the vat 21. Also, a timer, not shown, is arranged in the upper portion of the space disposed between the left-hand side wall I4 of the cabinet II and the left-hand side wall 30 of the vat 21; which timer is provided with an operating shaft, not shown, that extends through aligned openings provided in the front wall I1 and in the front panel 23, the extreme outer end of the operating shaft removably carrying a control knob I2I, the control knob I2I cooperating with a substantially annular trim and indexing plate I22 carried by the front panel 23. Specifically, the control knob I2I carries an index pointer I23 that cooperates with the legends off and on provided on the indexing plate I22. Also, a terminal board, not shown, is disposed in the lower portion of the space mentioned below the timer; which terminal board carries a measuring coil or relay, not shown, and other wiring, completing the electrical connections involving the operating motor 9I, the heater I20, the solenoids 99 and H2, and the timer, not shown.

The construction and arrangements of the timer and the electrical wiring of the apparatus I0 have not been illustrated in detail, as they form no part of the present invention, and are disclosed in the copending application of Douglas E. Illian, Serial No. 91,906, filed May '7, 1949, now Patent No. 2,624,353, dated Jan. 6, 1953.

In the operation of the apparatus 10, washing liquid is sprayed from the spraying device 96 downwardly into the vat 21 and is circulated upwardly by the impeller 90 through the vat 21 in order to effect washing of the dishes supported therein; and thereafter the supported dishes are dried by a blast of hot air produced by the heater I20 and circulated by the impeller 90 in the vat 21. During the operation of the apparatus I0, the door 42 occupies its closed position so that --9 the marginal rim 4] carried by the marginal flange 4.6 of the inner body sheet 45 engages the adjacent front surface of the vat rib 40 in order to the direct admission of liquid from the vat 21 into the doorway 33. Also, the baffles 19 and 80 carried by the respective side walls '30 and 3] of the vat 23 are effective in deflecting liquid from the doorway 33. Further, the baffle T2 cooperating with the vat rib 4U defines the pocket 18 therebetween, as previously explained, which pocket 18 appears to create turbulence of the liquid adjacent to the entrance to the doorway 33 in order further to limit the admission of liquid thereinto. The exact mode of cooperation between the baffle '12 and the vat rib 4B and the action in the pocket 18 is not altogether understood, but, as previously noted, it is believed that the limiting of the entrance of'the liquid into the doorway 33 by this arrangement is brought about fundamentally by the turbulence or curtain action that is produced upon the liquid in thepocket 18. In any case, the arrangement described is very effective to limit the entrance of liquid into the doorway 33. Finally, the small amount of liquid that does enter the doorway 33 has no substantial momentum and falls downwardly between the flanges of the doorway 33 and the marginal flange 44 of the outer body sheet 43 rearwardly of the ledge 31, whereby this liquid is returned via the groove 319 into the sump 38 to be recirculated by the bladed impeller 9U.

In any case, the arrangement of the gasketless-door construction described above is very effective to prevent the escape of liquid from the vat 21. Moreover, the arrangement is very advantageous in view of the fact that the desired action is obtained notwithstanding the inward spacing of the baffle 12 from the vat rib 40, whereby there is no shearing or scraping between these two elements and so that exact fits of these two elements are unnecessary, and movements of the door 42 between its open and closed positions take place without any interference or noises.

In view of the foregoing, it will be understood that there has been provided dishwashing apparatus of the front-opening gasketless-door type that comprises an improved arrangement of the baflles carried by the walls of the vat and by the door in order to prevent the escape of liquid from the vat and in order to allow free movements of the door between its open and closed positions without shearing or scraping actions between the cooperating baffles.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In washing apparatus including a vat adapted to contain washing liquid and provided with top and bottom walls and opposed side walls terminating in an upstanding forwardly directed doorway, said doorway having top and bottom flanges and opposed side flanges, said flanges terminating in an upstanding front opening, an upstanding inverted substantially U-shaped rib formed in said top and side walls at the junction thereof with said top and side flanges and inwardly disposed with respect to said top and side walls, said bottom flange being disposed below the ends of the legs of said rib and provided with an upwardly directed ledge extending between said side flanges and terminating adjacent to said front opening, a front door, and hinge mechanism mounting said front door within said doorway with the bottom of said front door in straddling relation with said ledge,'said front door being movable between a substantially horizontal open position and a substantially vertical closed position with respect to said front opening, the inside of said front door carrying an inverted substantially vU-shaped outwardly directed rim engaging said rib when said front door occupies its closed position in order to limit the admission of the washing liquid into said doorway; the combination comprising an inverted substantially U-shaped baffle carried by the inside of said front door adjacent to said rim, said baffie being spaced radial-1y inwardly with respect to said rim and projecting rearwardly with respect thereto into the area defined by said rib in inward spaced relation therewith toward the interio-r .of said vat when said front door occupies its closed position, said baiiie cooperating with said rib when :said front .door occupies its closed position to define an inverted substantially U- .shaped pocket therebetween, said pocket also being substantially U-shaped in cross section and causing a turbulency of the washing liquid therein in order further to limit the admission of the washing liquid into said doorway.

2. In washing apparatus including a vat adapted to contain washing liquid and provided with top and bottom walls and opposed side walls terminating in an upstanding forwardly directed doorway, said doorway having top and bottom flanges and opposed side flanges, said flanges terminating in an upstanding front opening, an upstanding inverted substantially U-shaped rib formed in said top and side walls at the junction thereof with said top and side flanges and inwardly disposed with respect to said top and side walls, said bottom flange being disposed below the ends of the legs of said rib and provided with an upwardly directed ledge extending between said side flanges and terminating adjacent to said front opening, a front door, and hinge mechanism mounting said front door within said doorway with the bottom of said front door in straddling relation with said ledge, said front door being movable between a substantially horizontal open position and a substantially vertical closed position with respect to said front opening, said front door having a cavity in the inside thereof bounded by top and opposed side flanges, said door flanges cooperating with said doorway flanges and the rear edges of said door flanges cooperating with said rib when said front door occupies its closed position in order to limit the admission of the washing liquid into said doorway; the combination comprising an inverted substantially U- shaped baflie carried by said front door within said cavity, said baiile also being substantially Z-shaped in cross section including connected outer and inner walls, said outer baffle wall being secured upon the inside of said door flanges and said inner baiile wall projecting rearwardly beyond the rear edges of said door flanges, said inner bafiie wall also being spaced radially inwardly with respect to said rib and projecting into the area defined by said rib toward the interior of said vat when said front door o cupies its closed position.

3. In washing apparatus including a vat adapted to contain washing liquid and provided with top and bottom walls and opposed side walls terminating in an upstanding forwardly directed doorway, said doorway having top and bottom flanges and opposed side flanges, said flanges terminating in an upstanding front opening, an upstanding inverted substantially U-shaped rib formed in said top and side walls at the junction thereof with said top and side flanges and inwardly disposed with respect to said top and side walls, said bottom flange being disposed below the ends of the legs of said rib and provided with an upwardly directed ledge extending. between said side flanges and terminating adjacent to said front opening, a front door provided with an inner body sheet having an inverted substantially U-shaped rearwardly directed marginal flange and an outer body sheet having an inverted substantially U- shaped rearwardly directed marginal flange and secured together in nested spaced-apart relation, and hinge mechanism mounting said front door within said doorway for movements between a substantially horizontal open position and a substantially vertical closed position with respect to said front opening, the lower ends of said body sheets being arranged in straddling relation with said ledge, the rear edges of the marginal flange of said inner body sheet cooperating with said rib when said front door 12 occupies its closed position in order to limit the admission of the washing liquid into said doorway; the combination comprising an inverted substantially U-shaped baflie carried by said front door within said inner body sheet, said bafile also being substantially Z-shaped in cross section including connected outer and inner walls, said outer baiiie wall being secured upon the inside of the marginal flange of said inner body sheet and said inner baflle wall projecting rearwardly beyond the rear edges of the marginal flanges of said body sheets, said inner baffle wall also being spaced radially inwardly with respect to said rib and projecting into the area defined by said rib toward the interior of said vat when said front door occupies its closed position.

FRANK D. LOW.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,009,223 Cochrane Nov. 21, 1911 1,620,671 Merseles Mar. 15, 1927 1,680,962 Voshardt Aug. 14, 1928 1,991,941 Jewell Feb. 19, 1935 2,002,300 Stoddard May 21, 1935 2,314,666 Stoddard Mar. 23, 1943 2,314,673 Walker Mar 23, 1943 2,395,747 Loeb Feb. 26, 1946 

